How to Incorporate in New Jersey
Learn how to incorporate in New Jersey: filing fees, Articles of Incorporation, registered agent requirements, state taxes, and processing times — all in one place.
Bizee Editorial Staff
Editorial Team
New Jersey corporation at a glance
Filing fee: $125 (domestic corporation)
Processing time: Typically 5–7 business days; expedited options available
State agency: New Jersey Division of Revenue and Enterprise Services
Annual report due: Annually by the last day of the anniversary month of formation
State tax rate: 9% corporate business tax (on allocated net income)
How to incorporate in New Jersey
To incorporate in New Jersey, you file Articles of Incorporation with the New Jersey Division of Revenue and Enterprise Services, pay the $125 state filing fee, appoint a registered agent with a New Jersey address, and register for state taxes using the NJ-REG form. Most standard filings are processed in 5–7 business days.
New Jersey has a strong business support infrastructure — tax credit programs, incentive zones, and a dense commercial market — but the state's corporate business tax rate of 9% is one of the higher rates in the country. Knowing that going in helps you plan your structure from the start.
Choose your entity type
New Jersey corporations file Articles of Incorporation. New Jersey LLCs file Articles of Organization. Both go to the same agency — the Division of Revenue and Enterprise Services — but the tax treatment differs.
A corporation is taxed as a separate entity and pays New Jersey's 9% corporate business tax on allocated net income. An LLC can be taxed as a sole proprietorship, partnership, or corporation depending on the election you make with the IRS. If pass-through taxation matters to your situation, talk to a tax professional before choosing your entity type.
Name your corporation
Your corporation's name must be distinguishable from any existing business name on file with the New Jersey Division of Revenue and Enterprise Services. It must also include a corporate designator — "Corporation," "Incorporated," "Company," or an abbreviation like "Corp.," "Inc.," or "Co."
You can check name availability through the New Jersey business name search portal before you file. Reserving a name is optional but holds it for 120 days if you're not ready to file immediately.
Appoint a registered agent
Every New Jersey corporation must have a registered agent — a person or business with a physical street address in New Jersey who is available during business hours to receive legal documents and official state correspondence on your behalf.
You can serve as your own registered agent if you have a New Jersey address, but many business owners use a registered agent service to keep their personal address off public records and make sure nothing gets missed.
File your Articles of Incorporation
File your Articles of Incorporation with the New Jersey Division of Revenue and Enterprise Services. The state filing fee is $125 for a domestic corporation. You can file online through the New Jersey business formation portal or by mail.
Your Articles of Incorporation need to include your corporation's name, the registered agent's name and address, the number of authorized shares, and the incorporator's name and signature. Standard processing takes 5–7 business days. Expedited processing is available for an additional fee.
Get an EIN and register for New Jersey taxes
After your Articles of Incorporation are approved, apply for an Employer Identification Number (EIN) from the IRS at irs.gov/ein. An EIN is your corporation's federal tax ID — you'll need it to open a business bank account, hire employees, and file taxes.
You also need to register your corporation for New Jersey state taxes by filing the NJ-REG form with the New Jersey Division of Revenue and Enterprise Services. This registration covers sales tax, employer withholding, and other state tax obligations depending on your business activity. New Jersey corporations are subject to the 9% corporate business tax on allocated net income.
Ongoing compliance requirements
New Jersey corporations must file an annual report with the Division of Revenue and Enterprise Services each year. The report is due by the last day of the anniversary month of your formation date. The filing fee is $75 for most corporations.
Beyond the annual report, you'll need to maintain a registered agent, keep corporate records, hold annual meetings of directors and shareholders, and stay current on state and federal tax filings. Missing the annual report deadline can put your corporation's good standing at risk — the state can revoke your certificate of authority if filings lapse.
FAQ
The state filing fee for a domestic corporation in New Jersey is $125, paid to the Division of Revenue and Enterprise Services when you file your Articles of Incorporation. Expedited processing costs extra. After formation, you'll pay a $75 annual report fee each year to keep your corporation in good standing.
Standard processing for Articles of Incorporation in New Jersey generally takes 5–7 business days. Expedited options are available through the Division of Revenue and Enterprise Services if you need faster turnaround. Online filings through the state's business formation portal tend to move faster than mail submissions.
It depends on your tax and ownership goals. A New Jersey corporation is taxed as a separate entity at the 9% corporate business tax rate. An LLC can be taxed as a sole proprietorship, partnership, or corporation depending on your IRS election, which gives more flexibility for pass-through taxation. Both file with the same state agency but use different formation documents — Articles of Incorporation for corporations, Articles of Organization for LLCs. A tax professional can help you figure out which structure fits your situation.
Yes. Every New Jersey corporation must have a registered agent with a physical street address in New Jersey. The registered agent receives legal documents and official state correspondence on your corporation's behalf during business hours. You can serve as your own registered agent if you have a qualifying New Jersey address, or you can use a registered agent service.
Yes, most New Jersey corporations need to file the NJ-REG form. It registers your corporation for state tax purposes — covering sales tax, employer withholding, and other obligations depending on your business activity. You file it with the New Jersey Division of Revenue and Enterprise Services after your Articles of Incorporation are approved. Filing can be done online through the New Jersey business registration portal.
New Jersey's location — between New York City and Philadelphia — gives businesses access to one of the densest commercial markets in the country. The state also offers business tax credit programs and incentive zones that qualifying corporations can take advantage of. That said, New Jersey's 9% corporate business tax rate is on the higher end nationally, so the decision to incorporate here usually comes down to where you're actually doing business, not just tax strategy.
Yes. You can file your Articles of Incorporation online through the New Jersey Division of Revenue and Enterprise Services business formation portal. Online filing is generally faster than mailing paper documents. You'll need your corporation name, registered agent information, authorized share count, and incorporator details ready before you start.
Yes. An Employer Identification Number (EIN) is your corporation's federal tax ID, issued by the IRS. You'll need an EIN to open a business bank account, hire employees, and file federal and state tax returns. You can apply for an EIN for free at irs.gov/ein after your Articles of Incorporation are approved by the state.
